Eheim substrat pro oxygen
- Thread starter jan
- Start date
Tourmaline is a mineral compound of iron, aluminum, sodium, boron, lithium and magnesium which are gradually dissolved, theoretically enriching water of important elements.
This has been going around the aquarium world for decades. I started hearing about it during the mid 90’s. The first aquarist I remember using was planted tanks. Some were using to raise or buffer the KH/GH which crushed coral does quite well and is significantly cheaper.
Tourmaline like crushed coral dissolves in water, the lower your PH the faster it dissolves. Eheim states the media is coated with it to increase oxygen. How long does that “magical” coating last as it can’t be indefinitely. So when the coatings gone it’s just plain old aquarium substrate.
I have zero experience and will never purchase something like that as I’m far to skeptical to believe in the marketing. I certainly like to experiment with new products, last year I tested Maxspect Nano Tech blocks which were advertised to reduce nitrates and after 9 months it definitely worked. That product addresses the problems of nitrates which we all fight but increased oxygen isn’t something that needs to be addressed in any of my aquariums so it’s a pass.
This has been going around the aquarium world for decades. I started hearing about it during the mid 90’s. The first aquarist I remember using was planted tanks. Some were using to raise or buffer the KH/GH which crushed coral does quite well and is significantly cheaper.
Tourmaline like crushed coral dissolves in water, the lower your PH the faster it dissolves. Eheim states the media is coated with it to increase oxygen. How long does that “magical” coating last as it can’t be indefinitely. So when the coatings gone it’s just plain old aquarium substrate.
I have zero experience and will never purchase something like that as I’m far to skeptical to believe in the marketing. I certainly like to experiment with new products, last year I tested Maxspect Nano Tech blocks which were advertised to reduce nitrates and after 9 months it definitely worked. That product addresses the problems of nitrates which we all fight but increased oxygen isn’t something that needs to be addressed in any of my aquariums so it’s a pass.
Only ever heard of tourmaline being used in hairdryers…also starting in the 90’s. Not sure about the eheim stuff but let us know if you try it.
HUKIT
curious about these Maxspect Nano Tech blocks. How well does it work?
I started the Maxspect Nano Tech blocks on July 1st. My water change schedule is 50% every 3 days. I started having my water tested every week from June 1st to June 30th to have a baseline. My nitrates hovered around 14.5-17.5ppm prior to a WC. I should note this tank has 10 Oscura Heterospila roughly 5-6”(it’s been 2.5 years), I hate these fish), 10 Amatitlania nanoluteus, and originally 100 plus Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis(lemon tetras) that I’ve lost a few so I’m guessing 80-90ish.Only ever heard of tourmaline being used in hairdryers…also starting in the 90’s. Not sure about the eheim stuff but let us know if you try it.
According to Maxspect the Denitrification catalyst should be replaced after 60 days which I did. The catalyst is very inexpensive at the cost of $7 every 60 days. My current nitrates are now averaging 9.5-11ppm so after 81 days I was seeing a roughly a 30% reduction in nitrates. So I’m pleasantly surprised so far. Now my concern is Maxspect also recommends cleaning and or replacing the blocks every 6 months which is sort of confusing. It takes time for the anaerobic bacteria to colonize so I emailed this past Monday as to confirm why I would replace the blocks as it seems like a scam to sell more products. I don’t mind buying the catalyst as I understand the bacteria needs a carbon source but I am skeptical on the need to replace the blocks every six months. I emailed Maxspect and they said you don’t have to replace the blocks just the catalyst. BRS’s website says to replace the blocks and carbon source every 60 days which is kinda scummy.
My local reef store has a Lamont’s SpinTouch and every Sunday they tested my water throughout the end of December. They don’t charge for water testing but they do have a tip jar so I’ve been tossing in $5 each week. So after 30 weeks of testing I have given them $175.
The carbon catalyst needed to be replaced around the 50 day mark as the nitrates started to slightly increase which is a little less than Maxspect stated, they recommended 60 days. The end result was the nitrates prior to water changes was tested on December 30th were at 8.4ppm. It’s not a perfectly scientific test obviously but after 6 months of use, along with 6 months of fish growth, and 3 carbon catalyst replacements they went from averaging around 15-17ppm down to 8.4ppm so around a 45% reduction. I don’t test my water any longer on that tank but I do have the blocks in every sump except one. So for $7 a month it’s fine. I could save $7 and do an extra water change or two.
Maxspect also has biospheres which I started in October 1st 2025, I wanted to try them aerobic (with oxygen) to see if they will work as nitrifying media. The other known bacterial process that's decrease inorganic N in significant amounts is the anammox process. The Biospheres are infused with beneficial minerals including Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Iron, Boron and Zinc and combined with special ingredient made with a combination of tourmaline, maifanitum, actinolite and volcanic rocks minerals(all off Maxspect Website). According to Maxspect they reduce nitrates so I used them on another 240g and over the course of 6 months in the sump they didn’t do a damn thing to affect the nitrates in that system. So it ultimately ended in just expensive filter media but something different to play with.
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Thanks for the detailed response. That’s a pretty decent drop in nitrates so it looks to be doing something for sure. I looked it up and was also for confused by the statement to replace the blocks or clean them periodically. They also suggested changing one half at a time, which makes sense to keep the bacterial colony going. $7 is cheap for the catalyst and if I ever get around to it, I might try experimenting by adding it to a grow out tank.
I’ve been curious about something like this ever since I saw an LFS that slowly pulled out all of their live rock from their saltwater sump and replaced them Cermedia Marinepure 8x8x4” blocks, which also claimed to remove nitrates due to its thickness. It was odd seeing their huge sump with just a few bricks in there. They said the water tested fine and were happy they didn’t have to deal with cleaning the gunk that builds up under the live rock.
I’ve been curious about something like this ever since I saw an LFS that slowly pulled out all of their live rock from their saltwater sump and replaced them Cermedia Marinepure 8x8x4” blocks, which also claimed to remove nitrates due to its thickness. It was odd seeing their huge sump with just a few bricks in there. They said the water tested fine and were happy they didn’t have to deal with cleaning the gunk that builds up under the live rock.
I have to say that I wish that I had used the Marinepure 4x8 bricks when I originally set up all my sumps. I have bags and bags of Fluval BioFx on egg crate elevated on legs to allow flow underneath and it still traps so much detritus and gunk. So once a year or so I pull the media to rinse and the sumps becomes a chocolate, milky brown soup, so I just shop vacuum the sump. Those bricks completely eliminates that problem. I’d have to use 2-3 bricks per tank and just can’t justify the cost to buy 12-13 bricks.
HUKIT
, does your source water contain significant nitrates? I'm astonished that your nitrates go as high as they do with your water change regimen. What size is that tank?I admit I don't follow all the marketing claims made for the various nitrate-reducing miracle media available now. Your comment about getting the same result out of a few extra water changes resonates with me. Unless you need to treat your source water extensively and your individual set-up limits how much treated water you can produce at any given time, you could just do an occasional 95% change and "re-set" your tank to zero nitrates, unless of course the source water has nitrate already.
If that's the case, could you not set up a single large reservoir equipped with these nitrate-reducing blocks and allow the anaerobic bacteria to "pre-treat" the water, which could then be used for changes in all your aquaria? It would be analogous to a RO set-up, producing water continuously for use as and where desired. Or is the de-nitrification process too slow for this to be practical?
It's nice to see that the makers of the product at least address the need for providing a carbon source for the bacteria involved. Many of these media, at least in the past, ignored that reality completely, making me automatically doubt/disbelieve anything they said. Even so, your stuff claims to need the replacement "catalyst"...but since a catalyst is not consumed during a chemical reaction, the use of that term is pure marketing BS. The stuff is a food source for bacteria, but I guess referring to it as Maxspect Bacteria Chow didn't fly with the marketing department.
Suggesting that you should replace not only the "catalyst" but also the medium...is indeed scummy. Then, when you call them on it, they just backpedal and say "Okay, no, you can continue to use the same medium". It's sleazy behaviour like that which pushes my "cynic" button...hard!...and it's a shame because a more honest approach to explaining and marketing the whole system would IMHO appeal to more of the buying public. They'd still get all the folks who buy the stuff now, but would also attract more of us guys in the "Oh, yeah? You've got some 'splaining to do, Lucy!" camp as well. As it stands, there's so much I don't trust about the product and the company that I just won't bite. The hell of it is that this is manipulating and controlling a natural process...bacterial de-nitrification...which is exactly the sort of thing that would normally appeal to me, as opposed to the use of mysterious artificial chemical potions/processes.
Thanks for explaining and documenting your experiment and results, even though it's interesting to me only in an academic sense.
Incidentally...I got a chuckle out of "...I hate these fish..."
Oh, and...don't even get me going on tourmaline hair dryers. Never heard of that before...my head just gets washed and then buffed dry...but wow, that "cynic" button is flashing red from a 20-second Googles search...
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